Chapter 285 Mother Su and Father Su

"It's okay. Leave what you can't finish. These dishes are plenty." Su Yuchen brought a bowl and chopsticks to Zhao Xiaojing, then turned to Su's mother and said, "You glutton can't finish all this! It's New Year's Eve, leave some for her. She'll come visit me later to wish me a happy new year!"

Mother Su glared at Su Yuchen. "Oh, how can you talk like that! You're saying you can't finish the food before they even start eating. How do you treat your classmates? Xiaojing, ignore her. Just eat. Afterwards, there are fried hemp leaves and Jingguo! Eat as much as you can!"

"Okay, thank you, Auntie." Zhao Xiaojing stifled a smile as she reached for a large bun. A bite revealed a filling of dried radish and vermicelli noodles. It was crispy, fragrant, and spicy, while the vermicelli noodles were chewy and juicy. Perhaps they grew and cooked the food themselves, but the flavors were rich and pure. A sip of the warm, not-too-burning porridge instantly dispelled the morning chill.

"This braised meat was originally braised with our own braising broth. When Chenzi came back and ate it, she said it didn't taste good and insisted on using the braising broth she got from you to braise it again. I didn't believe it at first, but when Chenzi finished braising it and we ate it, how could it taste good?

I told her she was shameless. Such delicious food must be the secret recipe of your shop, you use it to make money, how could she bring back a whole pot? She said you have plenty of soups, you don’t make money from this. His father then told her that she couldn’t cut off her classmates’ financial resources just to eat well. This pot of brine has a way of making money, how could she not make money from it? The girl wanted to scare us by making us eat well!

"I'll put it back when you leave. You're still using the braised soup to make money. His father and I are old and have eaten everything. How can we take advantage of you?" Su's mother saw Zhao Xiaojing pick up a piece of braised meat and fry hemp leaves, then turned back and chatted with Zhao Xiaojing.

Aunt Zhao Xiao ate a piece of braised beef and finally understood after listening to Su's mother's explanation. No wonder she felt that the braised meat tasted a bit stronger and slightly different from the one in the store. It turned out that it had been marinated in two different ways.

"Auntie, it's okay. I run a restaurant that serves dishes with gravy. This braising liquid is only used for a small portion of the dishes in the restaurant. Moreover, I make a lot of dishes, two large steel barrels of braising liquid. I only gave you a small pot. You can keep it for yourself. After the New Year is over, you can braise a big meat dish. Boil the braising liquid at high temperature, then filter out the residue and store it directly in the freezer. You can use it again next time." Zhao Xiaojing said.

"Now you believe it, don't you? You say every day that I'm trying to scare you. Do you really think I'm just bored?" Su Yuchen said, sat next to Zhao Xiaojing, poured himself a glass of water and warmed his hands.

"Oh, I saw people selling it outside. They all said that their sauce was a century-old one and they would never tell anyone else because they were afraid that others would know the secret recipe. I was afraid that if Xiaojing's secret recipe got leaked, others would learn it and steal her business." Mother Su laughed dryly.

"It's also because we're old and can't keep up with the times. Chenzi always said that you should open a restaurant to make money, but I thought you were just joking at such a young age. What restaurant chef doesn't learn cooking for more than ten years, eat until they have a big belly and a big face, before they can open a restaurant? But after tasting this pot of braising liquid, Xiaojing, you are like a monkey climbing a cliff - you are so capable!

I haven't tried your other dishes, but just from this brine, you can earn hundreds of thousands a year in the village!"

"Don't just rely on the marinade, other dishes are more delicious! If you don't believe me when I tell you, I'll ask Jingzi to cook a meal for you to open your eyes when I have time!" Su Yuchen said unhappily.

"They are guests! It's fine if you are domineering at home, but on New Year's Day, you expect others to cook for you when they come to your house? Be careful or I'll beat you! Come on, don't sit there anymore, go to the field and call your dad! It's so late and if you don't come back, the villagers will come to our house soon." Mother Su chased Su Yuchen up like chasing a chicken.

Su Yuchen looked at Zhao Xiaojing helplessly and stood up from the bench. Zhao Xiaojing curled her lips, winked at Su Yuchen, and gave her a look that said, "Don't worry."

She knew what Su Yuchen meant. It wasn't that it was impolite to ask the guest to cook during the Chinese New Year. She was just impatient.

They were anxious to confess to their parents that they were also partners in the restaurant, and they were anxious to give their parents money, but they didn't know how to start the conversation. They were afraid that their parents would not accept it, so they wanted to prove in a roundabout way that they had the ability to do so and reassure their parents.

"Auntie, I'm not here to visit you, I'm here to eat and drink for free. But I really need to borrow your stove. Cooking requires practice. It's best to lift the pot and stir the wok every day and practice often so that you won't get rusty when cooking." Zhao Xiaojing said half-seriously.

Just as Su's mother was about to speak, Su Yuchen, who had just walked to the door, walked back and sat down. Su's mother glanced at her and quickly turned her head to look at the door.

"Oh, you're still willing to come back! Are you tripping over those spinach legs in the field?"

"I met Zhuzi's father and talked about his family for a long time." Father Su touched his nose and walked to the kitchen to unload the backpack. He looked up and saw Zhao Xiaojing, "Oh, classmate Chenzi is here. Hello, hello, welcome to come often. When you come, just treat this place as your own home and don't be restrained."

"Hello uncle, you look like a cadre." Zhao Xiaojing had just finished eating a bun and greeted Su's father with a smile.

Su's father was dressed neatly in a military green short coat. He looked very similar to Su Yuchen, and the moment he spoke, he sounded like a village party secretary.

"Haha, this girl is so sweet! Just sit down and eat. If there is not enough food, just tell your aunt!" Father Su smiled and waved his hand.

"Wipe your hands, put the table and benches in the main room, put the snacks and tea tray in place, and bring the water bottle over!" Mother Su rolled her eyes at him and said.

Father Su wiped his hands angrily and started to move quickly under Mother Su's gaze.

Zhao Xiaojing finished the porridge in her bowl, and the two of them quickly cleared the table and washed the dishes. Before Su's mother announced the next task, Su Yuchen grabbed Zhao Xiaojing's hand and rushed out the door, "Mom, I'm going to take her for a walk! You and my dad should stay home and entertain the guests!"

"We're making dumplings for lunch, so come back early!" Mother Su hurriedly looked up and instructed.

Su Yuchen, who had already run out of the house, responded casually and pulled Zhao Xiaojing towards the row of houses that had just been renovated and built in a pseudo-Hui style in the direction of the village.

"I'll take you to my third grandmother's house to wish her a happy New Year. My third grandmother is a real craftsman. Her hand was crushed by a machine in the factory years ago, and now she only has two fingers left on her left hand. But she works and cooks very skillfully. The malt sugar and sesame candy she makes are so delicious. You can tell she made them with her heart the moment you taste them. Let me tell you..."

As soon as they left the house, Su Yuchen's spirits instantly perked up, and he gave a vivid introduction along the way. Even before they reached Third Grandma's house, Zhao Xiaojing already knew that Third Grandma was over eighty years old and had once been an excellent textile factory worker. Although her fingers had been broken, she was still an expert at knitting scarves, sweaters, and slippers, and she was especially good at making snacks.